Chapter 437 Holds POW/MIA Remembrance

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 437 in Oshkosh, Wis., celebrated Annual POW/MIA Recognition Day last month with a ceremony featuring guest speaker Kevin Hermening, the youngest American to be held as a prisoner of war at the U.S. Embassy in Iran. Hermening was held hostage in 1979 for 444 days.

“As someone who survived, who was lucky that people remembered for 444 days, I have a responsibility to remind people that there are still families waiting for the return of their loved ones,” Hermening said.

Thousands of U.S. service members are considered POW/MIA, and the ceremony remembered all of the brave men and women whose families are still waiting for their return, chapter President Duane Canon told Action 2 News. “Our chapter presented the POW/MIA remembrance ceremony for those that were prisoners of war and those that are still missing in action from not only the Vietnam War, but all wars,” he said. “They [have to] be accounted for.”